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Various Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithicworked flints known to have been recovered in Cranwich during the late 19th century or early 20th century, but with little additional information regarding provenance. This record details various small assemblage that are in museums collections and a number of other reported discoveries. Several large collections from unknown sites are recorded seperately, including material recovered by H. H. Halls and W. G. Clarke (NHER 4952); material collected by J. S. Warburton (NHER 4965) and material collected by T. F. Newman (NHER 14567).

In 1970 the Norwich Castle Museum acquired two potentially Upper Palaeolithicworked flints from Cranwich (NWHCM : 1970.304). These were from the collection held by the late J. J. Wymer and had been found at unknown sites in the parish by his father B. O. Wymer during the 1920s. These finds are listed in (S1) and were described and figured in (S2). One is described as a backed blade (NWHCM : 1970.304.1) and the other as a tanged point (NWHCM : 1970.304.2; (S14)). Wymer regarded these, along with several other finds from Cranwich, as evidence of a Late Upper Palaeolithic site in Cranwich (S2). Jacobi and Martingell (S3) have however described the objects he selected as not "…immediately convincing…" as Upper Palaeolithic finds. Information from (S4).

According to (S11) the Thetford Museum holds 3 Mesolithic flints; 2 blade/flakes and 1 core. These are recorded in (S8) as being amongst Clarke finds, although the object numbers cannot be matched to the accession numbers at present (the core is presumably THEHM : 1979.41). The blades are listed as potentially Upper Palaeolithic. The remaining pieces are most likely Neolithic.

The British Sturge Collection includes a number of worked flints from Cranwich. These are listed in (S5) as 1 long knife, 2 long blades, 1 arrowhead and 2 'Neol[iths]' implements of unspecified type. Information from (S6). Three of these objects have now been identified as Late Upper Palaeolithicblades (S7). These blades, one of which is described in (S8), are presumably the reason that (S9) notes this collection includes Mesolithic material. The arrowhead is listed in (S10) as a barbed and tanged arrowhead.Previously recorded as NHER 4962.

These British Museum also holds several other small collections of worked flints that are recorded as being Upper Palaeolithic/Mesolithic (the majority presumably the latter):- 1 core and 6 scrapers. Ex Armstrong (unregistered).- 2 cores and 1 scraper. Ex S. H. Warren (unregistered).- 1 scraper. Donor unknown (unregistered).Information from museum records.

FINDS IN OTHER COLLECTIONS

The J. J. Wymer Collection, now held by Royal Holloway (University of London), includes a number of worked flints from Cranwich. These were originally collected by B. O. Wymer (his father):- 1 small "celt-like" implement (W211), 1 end scraper (W273) and 1 semi-circular scraper (W274). Listed in (S12).- 1 blade (W2627), 1 fabricator (W2628), 1 ?strike-a-light (W2634), 1 crude axe (W2640) and 1 scraper (W2709). Listed in (S13).

Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 August 2014.

Monument Types

FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)

FINDSPOT (Upper Palaeolithic - 40000 BC to 10001 BC)

FINDSPOT (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)

FINDSPOT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)

FINDSPOT (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 1501 BC)

Associated Finds

BLADE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)

BORER (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)

BORER (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)

END SCRAPER (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)

Monograph: Wymer, J. J. and Bonsall, C. J. (eds). 1977. Gazetteer of Mesolithic Sites in England and Wales with a Gazetteer of Upper Palaeolithic Sites in England and Wales. Council for British Archaeology Research Report. No. 20. p 205.